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» Visist Frank's Journal Archives
| Image #: |
2680 |
| Title: |
Dance of the Ferns |
| Location: |
Keahua Arboretum, Kauai, Hawaii |
| |
May 8, 2003 9:15 am |
Sunrise at Hanama ulu Bay proved to be less than cooperative. Strong easterly winds off the ocean waived the palm trees back and forth. A hazy cloud bank muted the morning colors. One of those classic Hawaiian sunrises with the omnipresent coconut palms framing the beach was not to be. The wind continued for the next hour as I walked the beach.
At 6:30 I left Hanama ulu Bay, and headed to Keahua Arboretum taking Kuamo'o road east past Wailua Reservoir. At the arboretum I was unable to cross the stream due to heavy rains from the night and early morning. The roadway was completely submerged. I pulled into a small parking area and surveyed the situation. Workers in the area advised me against fording the torrent, which by now was swift and deep. Rain, at times heavy, was expected for the rest of the day. I followed the stream toward the south.
While getting my camera equipment, a light mist began to fall. I grabbed my rain gear and my oversize umbrella and headed out. After hiking for ½ mile, I returned to a grove of trees that I had noted earlier. I chose a location, and began setting up my camera as the light rain swelled to a downpour. Immediately I covered my camera with my rain jacket, opened my umbrella, and slid my backpack under the tripod. The downpour began to puddle around my feet. I elected to wait for a break in the weather. Although it seemed like hours, I was able to continue working after a 45-minute delay. This time afforded me the opportunity to consider an image that I thought would make an interesting exposure. I removed a film holder containing a previously exposed sheet of film, and placed it in the camera. Carefully calculating the exposure, I pulled the dark slide and exposed the scene. After making two exposures the clouds again burst open, with a ferocity that prevented any further work. I couldn't even gather my gear, since pulling down the umbrella would have soaked both me and my equipment within seconds. 20 minutes later, the rain again subsided, and I was able to make a third exposure. Taking no more chances after this third exposure, I grabbed my gear, and made a dash for the car.
I hoped the exposures would realize in an image, what I had envisioned in my mind.
Returning to the mainland and viewing my transparencies, my spirits were lifted at the "Dance of the Ferns", an image from Keahua Arboretum.
Using a Linhof Technika (4 x 5 field camera) with a 180mm F5.6 Schneider Symmar lens for the first exposure and a 120 mm F5.6 Schneider Symmar lens for the second exposure the image was recorded on Fuji Velvia film. The final composition is cropped slightly from the original.
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